|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
July 2007
Dear Friend of TSA:
Teenager Jennifer Zwilling stands in front of a classroom and starts talking about Tourette Syndrome. At first, the students, a bit skeptical, wonder what it’s all about. Then, gradually, they are drawn into the story being told so persuasively by the confident young speaker. It is a story about a disorder most of her listeners know little or nothing about — and what they do know is often distorted and negative.
This is the TSA Youth Ambassador Program in action. What started out as the germ of an idea in the minds of Jennifer and her sister, Amanda, has developed into a full-fledged program spreading positive TS awareness across the nation. As you read this, youngsters are being taught and supplied with professionally produced materials to educate their peers about TS in schools, after-school programs, scout troops, sport leagues and other youth groups. It is a program reaching out to an entire generation. It is spreading seeds of authentic information — pre-emptive action against the spread of distorted impressions of a disorder so many know so little about.
For her effective, meaningful work in creating the Youth Ambassador Program, and presenting it to thousands of school children across the nation, Jennifer was honored in a nationally televised ceremony with a 2007 BR!CK Award, which CNN has dubbed The Oscar of Youth Community Service.
Today, TSA’s Youth Ambassador Program continues in its crucial role of telling the true story about TS and the children who are touched by it. A CD version of the learning program and its critical educational materials is being distributed nationally and an on-line version is available to download from TSA’s website. All in all this program is an inspiring example of how a simple idea has been transformed into a vibrant national program.
On the adult level, TSA has produced a new television spot featuring Richard Lewis, famed comic, for his role on the prizewinning Larry David show, Curb Your Enthusiasm. The spot is now in nationwide distribution and is drawing favorable reaction from our members as well as the general public.
Meanwhile, our Emmy Award winning documentary, I Have Tourette's but Tourette’s Doesn’t Have Me, continues to broaden knowledge of TS to appreciative audiences. Promotional cards offering it in DVD format were recently sent to every public and private school in the U.S. (more than 122,000)! The goal is to have it included as part of the basic school curriculum. Supplementing this campaign, foreign language titles are now being added to reach viewers beyond America’s borders to include other continents. Simply put — TS is a disorder not confined to the U.S., neither is our communications program.
TSA continues to make inroads against the practice of associating TS with foul language. In a recent gathering of celebrities, when one tried to use TS as an alibi for spewing curse words, he was promptly challenged by others right in line with our long-running ad, It Ain’t Funny and It Ain’t True. While we are ever-watchful for derogatory references in the media and quick to correct them, we are also proactive by offering our expertise to producers of motion pictures and television programs.
Expansion of our Youth Ambassador Program is an effective tool for teaching our nation’s children about TS. You can be a vital part of it along with the other initiatives listed above. In fact your role is critical because we rely on your financial support as a key element in funding the Youth Ambassador Program as well as all the other programs on our agenda, day in and day out, year round.
So we earnestly ask that you stand alongside Jennifer Zwilling and the other dedicated youngsters in their presentations by adding to the donations essential to their work. Please make your donation as sizeable as you can — and make it now in time for the next school year.
Gratefully yours,
| Monte N. Redman Chairman of the Board |
Judit Ungar President |
for your protection, all TSA
donations are processed through our secure online store
Please fill in the information below
Yes, I want to support the expansion of TSA's Youth Ambassador Program and TSA's ongoing efforts to tell the true story of TS and the children who are touched by it.
The Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc.(TSA®)
is a 501(c)(3) organization, qualified to receive charitable contributions in accordance with IRS regulations
©2007 Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc. 42-40 Bell Boulevard / Bayside NY 11361 / 718-224-2999